The Salvation Army is seeking nominations for the 2015 D.J.’s Hero Scholarship Awards. Seven Nebraska high school seniors will be chosen to receive the award, named in honor of the late D.J. Sokol, for commitment to others and to their community.
Nominations must be postmarked by Wednesday, March 4, 2015 to be eligible for entry. Forms are available at most Nebraska high school guidance offices, online at GiveSalvationArmy.org or by calling 402-898-5906. Honorees receive a $10,000 scholarship toward their selected college or university. D.J.’s Heroes will be recognized at the D.J.’s Hero Awards Luncheon on May 5, 2015 at CenturyLink Center Omaha.

The featured speaker is Liz Murray, author, “Breaking Night: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey from Homeless to Harvard.” Murray’s life is a triumph over adversity and a stunning example of the importance of dreaming big. Her life as the child of a cocaine-addicted parents in the Bronx was grim. By age 15, she lost her mother and was homeless and living in the streets. Her story is exhilarating as she takes the audience on a very personal journey where she achieves the improbable.
Criteria for selecting honorees include:
Nebraska residency
High school senior
Commitment to others and to the community
Courage to act independently
Greatest achievement in life
Ability to overcome challenges/adversity

Proceeds from the luncheon benefit Salvation Army programs for children and families.

The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination since 1865. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. About 82 cents of every dollar raised is used to support those services in nearly 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.